Gita Wolf, the talented editor of Tara Books, an Indian publishing company known for championing folk artists, crafted the concept for Sun and Moon: Folk Tales by Various Artists. Representatives of different Indian regions join to create a visually striking screen-printed, limited-edition book highlighting the relationship of the sun and the moon in Hindu and other local traditions. This distinctive encounter starts with the intensely purple cover, with its curvilinear images of a filigreed moon crescent and golden sun face peaking out from the title page through the die-cut opening. The double-page spreads, on heavy, handmade textured paper, feature a song, a line of poetic text, a short tale or an explanation of traditional customs, accompanied by strong, graphic representations of these primordial Indian symbols, the major heavenly bodies that figure so prominently in many cultures. The omnipresent orbs speak about their importance: "I am great, says the sun, for I make the world shine with light./ I am greater, says the moon: without me, the world is a sad sight."
Ten accomplished artists share their bold images. The blazing red and yellow suns and cool blue and white moons invite repeated viewings, depicted in the very individualistic styles of the Gond people from Madhya Pradesh, the Vaghari community of Gujarat, the artists of the Madhubani region of Bihar and the Meena people of Rajasthan. The last page credits the artists and provides some details about the various styles, which also include the ritual Pithora wall paintings of Gujarat and the Patachitra textile art of Orissa (now officially known as Odisha).
Children and adults interested in folklore and art will want to share this authentic exposure to a universal theme. --Melinda Greenblatt, freelance book reviewer